Carmelo Anthony hinted nicely, saying the Knicks should consider Kurt Rambis but also interview other candidates to become permanent head coach.
Then, Phil Jackson reportedly started pushing to give Rambis a multi-contract.
Now, Melo must be more direct.
Ian Begley of ESPN:Carmelo Anthony would like to have some input on the Knicks’ upcoming personnel decisions, including the club’s next head-coaching hire.
“I think you have to,” he said Wednesday night. “I think you have to have some type of input, whether it’s input or dialogue, whatever word that you want to use. I think you have to have that. I think at this point it needs to be some type of connection, some type of communication. Especially if we want to right this ship, there definitely needs to be some type of communication.”
Rambis has spent most of his interim stint with the Knicks trying to win and failing. Melo had to tell him to use young players more, because if winning weren’t possible, at least build for the future.
At this stage in his career, Melo should want a coach who gives him more valuable input than the other way around.
That doesn’t seem like Rambis, whom Jackson adores. Does Melo have the heart to deliver Jackson the news? Probably. But is Jackson willing to listen? I’m not so sure. If he’s not, he must either convince Melo to share his view or deal with an unhappy aging star on a max contract with a no-trade clause.
Melo has some power in this situation. It’s completely reasonable for him to flex it to help get the best coach possible.